Get set to ski

<p>OLYMPIC VALLEY -- For the first time in nearly five decades, an Olympic torch relay is set to wind its way from the north shore of Lake Tahoe to Squaw Valley to mark the start of a major celebration of winter athletics featuring hundreds of participants from around the world.</p><p>The Jan. 8 torch relay will kick off the Olympic Heritage Celebration, a series of events marking the 50th anniversary of the 1960 Winter Olympic Games that took over Squaw Valley five decades ago this winter.</p><p>The celebration promises to be one of the largest multi-sport athletic events at Tahoe since, well, the Olympics, and may spark enthusiasm for the 21st Winter Olympic Games set for Vancouver, Canada in February.</p><p>It has been 50 years since Squaw Valley became the unlikely host for the VIII Olympiad that saw 665 athletes from 30 nations compete for medals in 27 events.</p><p>To celebrate that anniversary, as well as the 60th anniversary of Squaw Valley USA and the return of the Olympic Games to the Pacific Coast for the first time since 1960, the Olympic Heritage Celebration will occur at multiple sites on the north shore from Jan. 8-17.</p><p>With featured sports ranging from moguls to figure skating to biathlon, the Olympic Heritage Celebration will be just like the Olympics in that nearly everyone will find an event that interests them.</p><p>Few today realize what a long-shot Squaw Valley was to win its bid for the Olympic Games; owner Alex Cushing admitted he made his initial bid on a whim to promote the resort. Even fewer then realized how television, broadcasting the Winter Games for the first time, would positively portray the picture-perfect Lake Tahoe ski region (with its eight feet of new snow right before the Opening Ceremonies) around the world.</p><p>“The Squaw Valley Olympics were the first time the (winter) games were in the American West and people around the world had no idea about the winter opportunities Tahoe had,” said Amelia Richmond, a spokeswoman for Squaw Valley USA. “The games kicked off the impact of winter sports on this area.”</p><p>Although most of the event surrounding the Olympic Heritage Celebration will take place at Squaw Valley USA, some events will take place at other sites, just as they did in 1960. Most of the Nordic and biathlon events will occur at Sugar Pine Point Park near Tahoma, and neighboring ski areas including Alpine Meadows will also host alpine events.</p><p>In addition to the anticipated economic boost to the north shore during the celebration, the Olympic Heritage Celebration committee hopes the event will raise awareness surrounding the winter Olympics and eventually lead to a Squaw Valley Ski Museum dedicated to the ski history of the Sierra Nevada and the 1960 Games.</p><p>“We hope to rekindle the spirit of the Winter Games as we raise awareness for the Squaw Valley Ski Museum project and convey the economic and historical impact of this museum and its future value as an asset to the Tahoe community,” said Linda Williams, the project manager for the Squaw Valley Ski Museum foundation.</p><p>For devout skiers, the week includes perhaps the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ski the exact same downhill, giant slalom, slalom and cross-country courses used in 1960. Jean Vuarnet, whose name later became synonymous with fashion sunglasses, won the downhill in 2 minutes, 6 seconds that year — but Squaw Valley officials urge skiers to use caution by experiencing the course rather than racing it.</p><p>The upcoming 2010 Olympics set for Feb. 12-28 in Vancouver is expected to draw 80 countries, 5,500 athletes and 2.4 million spectators. The 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics seem almost quaint by comparison.</p><p>“Those Olympics were the last time all of the Olympians were housed together in one location and all of the athletes were true amateurs,” Richmond said. “There is going to be a lot of reminiscing and nostalgia about that era of the Olympics during the heritage celebration.”</p><p>For information, go to www.squaw.com or call (530) 583-6985, ext. 7130.</p><p><em>Erick Studenicka is a freelance writer for The Press Democrat who lives and works in Carson City, Nev.</em></p>